Pfizer says COVID-19 pill near 90 percent effective in final analysis
December 14th, 20210 On Tuesday, Pfizer Inc. said final analysis of its antiviral COVID-19 pill still showed near 90 percent efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Last month the U.S. drugmaker...
Pfizer booster doses authorized for ages 16-17
December 10th, 20210 LANSING - Following CDC approval, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging all eligible Michiganders 16 and up to get the Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their two primary COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, Pfizer is the only authorized vaccine for under age 18. Eligible Michiganders should...
First Omicron variant case detected in Michigan
December 10th, 20210 LANSING — Michigan has recorded its first confirmed case of the emerging Omicron COVID-19 variant as it continues to battle rising cases of the dangerous Delta variant. The news comes as the country is coming to grips with yet another variant of the virus, with first cases reported in California, New York and Colorado in the last...
1 lb jars of Al kanater brand tahini recalled for potential Salmonella contamination
December 2nd, 20210 The company that produces Al kanater brand tahini is recalling certain lot codes of the product because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the announcement on Tuesday. The product is distributed by International Golden Foods, Inc. (IGF) of Bensenville, IL. The...
Omicron variant cases confirmed in U.S., health officials on alert
December 1st, 20210 - Briana Gasorski contributed to this report The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday that the first case of the newly emerging Omicron variant of COVID-19 was detected in the U.S. A second case was announced in Minnesota on Thursday, after which two more states, New York and Colorado, reported...
Hamtramck Public Schools to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics, including boosters
November 30th, 20210 HAMTRAMCK — Hamtramck Public Schools (HPS) is providing families with the resources they need to make informed decisions about their health as the state undergoes yet another surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The district says safety practices like washing hands, social distancing and wearing masks are simple and...
We need a new way to measure COVID
November 25th, 20210 — This article by Abdul El-Sayed originally appeared in the newsletter The Incision. It has been edited for style. Subscribe to The Incision here: incision.substack.com Throughout the pandemic, Europe has been a harbinger of what’s coming next on this side of the pond. And across Europe, COVID cases are climbing. In the U.K.,...
Michigan set to receive federal funds for lead water line replacements
November 25th, 20210 LANSING — This week, Governor Whitmer announced the state would be receiving federal money towards replacing lead service lines in the state, a badly needed project. The funds are earmarked for water infrastructure and come from the newly-signed federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Michigan is set to receive $10...
State of Michigan secures additional staffing to support hospitals amid COVID-19 surge; state sees more than 17,000 new cases over a two day period
November 24th, 20210 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has announced a federal grant to help hire additional staff at Michigan hospitals. Under the agreement, the federal government will send two medical teams to local hospitals to relieve doctors and nurses as they treat COVID-19 and is expected to send 44...
Proof of COVID-19 vaccine to be required for all U.S. land border crossings
November 24th, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — President Biden has announced requirements for all essential, non-resident travelers crossing U.S. land borders. This decision includes truck drivers, government and emergency response officials and would require them to be fully vaccinated beginning on Jan. 22. A senior administration official said the...
Dearborn Public Schools decides to not yet return to virtual learning
November 24th, 20211 DEARBORN — Despite neighboring districts deciding to return to virtual learning amid the spike in COVID-19 cases, Dearborn Public Schools has decided to remain in-person for now. In a post on social media, the district said it is not yet moving to virtual learning, but is prepared. “As the Boy Scout motto states, ‘be...
Crestwood School District to return to virtual learning temporarily, plans COVID-19 vaccine clinic
November 24th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Amid the surge in positive COVID-19 cases throughout the state, the Crestwood School District has decided to return to virtual learning temporarily. With 36 positive cases among students and staff throughout the district and an estimated one to three close contacts to each case on average, Superintendent Youssef...
More than 10 percent of Michigan children ages 5-11 have received their first vaccine dose
November 23rd, 20210 LANSING — The state reported this week that as of last Friday, more than 87,000 (10.5 percent) of Michigan children ages 5 to 11 have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging parents and caregivers to get their children vaccinated before the...
State officials urge getting extra shot, after FDA approves boosters for all adults
November 19th, 20210 DETROIT - Amid a surge in cases, Michigan officials are now urging people to get their COVID-19 vaccine boosters, that are now approved for anyone over 18 years of age by the FDA. Daily cases in the state have consistently risen since a drastic reduction last summer, showing an upward cumulative trend. Cases peaked with over 6,500...
Henry Ford hospital marks first COVID-19 vaccinations for children
November 19th, 20210 DETROIT — Henry Ford Health System began COVID-19 vaccinations for children Thursday, marking a new milestone in the coronavirus pandemic. For parents like Smitha and Michael Hahn of Bloomfield Hills, the occasion was one of excitement and relief. Their children Jack, 7, and Sonya, 5, were the first to receive the first dose of the......
Michigan launches program to provide free, at-home COVID-19 tests through schools
November 19th, 20210 LANSING — The state has launched a program to make free at-home COVID-19 tests available to families through schools. On Thursday, Governor Whitmer launched a new pilot program in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) called "MI Backpack Home Tests" to provide free, at-home COVID-19 antigen...
D7 goes to virtual learning amid COVID-19 outbreak
November 18th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — An announcement was made at the Nov. 17 school board meeting that the D7 School District will return to virtual learning temporarily. A letter posted on the district’s Facebook page from Interim Superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Cyr cited recent upticks in COVID-19 cases as the reason. “Due to the increase and......
First influenza A outbreak reminds residents to get flu vaccine
November 17th, 20210 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is asking residents to take steps to protect themselves and others this flu season. To prevent outbreaks of the flu and COVID-19, the MDHHS is asking Michiganders to get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, wear masks in indoor settings, social distance when...
Michigan surpasses 70 percent vaccinated milestone for ages 16 and older
November 16th, 20210 MICHIGAN — The state hit an important milestone in vaccinations against COVID-19 for adults this week. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced on Wednesday that Michigan has reached the state’s 70 percent goal of eligible residents age 16 and older receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19...
Beaumont chief says fourth COVID surge looks more like a “marathon”
November 11th, 20210 ROYAL OAK — With COVID cases on the rise again, Beaumont’s chief medical officer is saying this fourth surge is taking on a different shape. Previous COVID surges in 2020 and early 2021 saw rapid increases in cases and then climbs in hospitalizations, followed by rapid declines in both cases and hospitalizations. But this...
Children ages 5 to 11 now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
November 3rd, 20210 The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), doctors and state public health leaders are urging Michigan parents to get their children ages 5 to 11 vaccinated with Pfizer's COVID-19 pediatric vaccine, which received emergency use authorization for this age group from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was......
Governor Whitmer signs executive directive expediting distribution of vaccines to children
October 27th, 20210 LANSING — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive directive to state departments and agencies to expedite ordering of the COVID-19 vaccine for kids. The directive is also to expedite distribution of the vaccine to ensure that students could continue in-person learning in a safe environment. “Today, we’re taking...
COVID vaccine hesitancy campaign continues in Wayne County
October 27th, 20210 DEARBORN — C-Assist, a Dearborn-based NGO headed by Nancy and Zeina Berry, is one of two given a grant for vaccine hesitancy by the Health Services and Resources Administration Agency. The campaign, Partners of Health Equity, is a COVID vaccine awareness campaign that began in August and targets the Arab American communities......
Dearborn assures residents it meets federal water safety levels
October 26th, 20211 DEARBORN — After growing concerns over lead in drinking water in Hamtramck and Benton Harbor, the city of Dearborn is assuring its residents that its tested water levels meet federal standards for safety. Dearborn’s government says its water lines are tested yearly and the results have always came back within acceptable federal...
High levels of lead found in Hamtramck water system
October 21st, 20210 HAMTRAMCK — After elevated levels of lead in the city's water system were detected, the city of Hamtramck partnered with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to distribute one free water filter with replacement cartridges, per address, to Hamtramck residents on Thursday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in......
